SOARING business rates in Penmaenmawr have led to one councillor calling in valuation officers to assess what he calls “astronomical” rises.

Retailers in the quarry village complained after some found their business rate double year-on-year, and other business owners threatening to shut up shop.

Local councillor Ken Stevens visited businesses with a valuation officer to review their rates.

“I was thoroughly shocked, that’s why I got in touch with our MP,” said Cllr Stevens.

“Penmaenmawr has been on its knees for so long. We need more than 12 months to get the town back on its feet again.

“I was horrified by some stories. Some thought they’d close.”

However, certain properties have successfully brought their business rates down by 20%.

A spokesman for the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) said: “We issued the draft valuations in October so that business occupiers had a couple of months to check that the details we had used in their valuation were up to date and could inform us of any issues before councils went ahead to calculate and send out bills.

“In the case of Penmaenmawr, additional rental evidence that we weren't originally aware of was brought to our attention and we took action. The outcome was a reduction in the rateable value of around 44 properties.”

Michael Learmond of the Federation of Small Businesses wants to see long term changes.

“The last thing we need is to lose businesses. Some are on the brink of closure.